WASHINGTON — The White House on Tuesday attempted to do damage control after President Joe Biden’s poor debate performance, which renewed concerns about his age and mental fitness.
Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Tuesday that Biden will speak with Democratic lawmakers and governors on Wednesday to address their concerns. The President has not addressed questions about his performance publicly and his two appearances since, he has read from a teleprompter for prepared remarks.
“We’re going to turn the page,” she said. “We’re going to get out there. Across the country, Americans are going to see him for themselves.”
The debate caused panic among some Democrats and lawmakers have now questioned Biden’s overall fitness to serve.
“First of all, I want to say we understand the concerns,” Jean-Pierre said. “We get it. The president did not have a great night, as you all know.”
“But I will say this, and the president said this over the past couple of days, certainly right after the debate: He knows how to do the job,” Jean-Pierre said, “and he knows how to do the job not because he says it, because his record proves it.”
Jean-Pierre reiterated that Biden had a cold on the night of the debate and is still dealing with it currently. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Tuesday that it’s fair for people to ask whether Biden was facing “an episode or a condition.”
“Well, what I can tell you is that he had a cold and a bad night. I would not see this as an episode,” Jean-Pierre responded. “I would see this as what it was and what we believe it to be, which is, it was a bad night. And he did, on top of that, he had a cold. And that is the reality of the situation.”
